next story

These Olympians Who Adopted Sochi Stray Pups Win All the Medals in Our Hearts

As if the Olympics weren't messing with my emotions enough: Several American athletes are taking the heart-tugging to the next level by adopting stray pups from Sochi.

Before the Games got started, heartbreaking stories of streets crowded with homeless dogs dominated the media coverage—and now, at least a few of them are getting second chances with Olympian adopters.

Slopestyle skiing silver medalist Gus Kenworthy started the party last week, when he announced that he'd be taking home a whole litter—one pup for him, several for eager friends and family members back home. He had discovered the mutts huddling together near one of the media tents. By the by, not that he'd ever have to write one, but can you imagine this guy's online dating ad? "Hi, I'm Gus, I'm perfect-looking, I'm an Olympic silver medalist, and I rescue dogs." Miley Cyrus is into it.

That pic got 8,265 retweets (or 2,066.25 per scruffy munchkin, to be exact).

Kenworthy had actually been held up in Sochi for several days waiting for the paperwork to go through (he tweeted this morning that he's now flying back to New York to do some media, and the pups will follow when they're all set). The delay didn't stop him from posting amazing pup-dates on Twitter: